Strange given the crap Burke got and the butt-kissing the Oilers have received in the media.

With toronto being the centre of the Universe, you're surprised they get so much attention?

The Oiler rebuild. in mu opinion, is a long term one, with a new arena in mind. In toronto, fans have been waiting for decades to see the leafs back in the finals, so there's a little bit more pressure, and a bit more scrutiny.

I think we're starting to see that the tank to rebuild model does not automatically make you a cup contender like a lot of people thought. It is likely the easiest way to get top end young talent but it does not guarantee anything. You still need luck (not every 1st overall pick is a Crosby), and then you need the ability to build around your core to fill in the gaps which is something Edmonton is currently failing at.

Burke (imo) is one of the best GMs in the league. If he has a lot of influence in Calgary I no longer fear for their rebuild.

the thank rebuild is great to get 1-2 good draft classes in the cupboard
but then you have to bring in vets, bring in winners

IMO oil bring in lunongo , bring in a guy like morrow, make a trade for a d if its there. Then all of the sudden they are in the thick of things.


but ... nope no goalie. no d, trade vets ... smart move

"Tanking" is relying too much on luck. Pittsburgh getting Crosby and Malkin was an incredible amount of luck. Even losing the Ovechkin draft and getting Malkin instead was such a huge break. I hate when people say teams should "Tank" like the Pens. You could try 1000 times and not replicate their success in the draft.

Rnh, Hall, and Yakupov and really nice players. But as 1st overalls? Might not have been the best years to tank.

Why isn't Florida better? Columbus? Atlanta/Winnipeg? People always ignore the teams where tanking has not worked.

Boston did not tank. They built through trades, UFA signings and great second round drafting.

the thank rebuild is great to get 1-2 good draft classes in the cupboard
but then you have to bring in vets, bring in winners

IMO oil bring in lunongo , bring in a guy like morrow, make a trade for a d if its there. Then all of the sudden they are in the thick of things.


but ... nope no goalie. no d, trade vets ... smart move
- nightmare3020

Dubnyk actually is a good young goalie. He has a very solid season. He's kind of like Reimer in that both had strong seasons last year, but still didn't get respect.

And the OIlers forwards have to stop playing pond hockey. They still have major issues upfront.

With toronto being the centre of the Universe, you're surprised they get so much attention?

The Oiler rebuild. in mu opinion, is a long term one, with a new arena in mind. In toronto, fans have been waiting for decades to see the leafs back in the finals, so there's a little bit more pressure, and a bit more scrutiny.
- Doppleganger

I think Edmonton has gotten a ton of attention and butt-kissing for their rebuild. The Leafs have largely been laughed-at.

Burke was supposedly such a fool. The Kessel trade HAHA. Worst.Trade. Eva. Well, looks better now doesn't it? Rielly and Kadri look pretty darn good as first round draft choices. Schenn for JVR? Brilliant. Gardiner/Lupul for Beauchemin? Brilliant. Franson litterally for free. Brilliant. Phaneuf for scrubs? Brilliant

I don't see any kind of creativity in the Oilers rebuild. Basically be incompetent and get first overall.

And now, Nonis has taken over. Lombardi just admitted no other GM wanted Bernier. The Leafs already had a goalie. What a silly move. Not! 25 year-old goalie looking like a true franchise goalie.

I think Edmonton has gotten a ton of attention and butt-kissing for their rebuild. The Leafs have largely been laughed-at.

Burke was supposedly such a fool. The Kessel trade HAHA. Worst.Trade. Eva. Well, looks better now doesn't it? Rielly and Kadri look pretty darn good as first round draft choices. Schenn for JVR? Brilliant. Gardiner/Lupul for Beauchemin? Brilliant. Franson litterally for free. Brilliant. Phaneuf for scrubs? Brilliant

I don't see any kind of creativity in the Oilers rebuild. Basically be incompetent and get first overall.

And now, Nonis has taken over. Lombardi just admitted no other GM wanted Bernier. The Leafs already had a goalie. What a silly move. Not! 25 year-old goalie looking like a true franchise goalie.
- RogerRoeper

Media's silly. Edmonton got a fair amount of butt-kissing, unreasonable expectations, and now they're every analysts favourite whipping boy. Everyone's got an opinion on what's wrong, why they're so disappointing and why they'll never get there.

I'd have traded three years of intense adulation and this past half a year of stale criticism for four years of reasonable reporting and tempered expectations.

I have a hard time responding to the rest because I don't consider the leafs and oilers rebuilds a zero sum game. You're obviously cheesed about the media, but one doesn't need to think the leafs rebuilt badly to think the oilers rebuilt well and vice-versa.

Also, when you've compiled 191 losses over the last four years, you hear plenty about what's wrong with the team. Anyone who suggests the Oilers have gotten a four year completely free ride probably hasn't listened to Edmonton media over that span.

Also, when you've compiled 191 losses over the last four years, you hear plenty about what's wrong with the team. Anyone who suggests the Oilers have gotten a four year completely free ride probably hasn't listened to Edmonton media over that span.
- Morris

They really have had an easy ride overall though. But that's to do with laziness than anything else. 3 straight #1 picks do not equal dynasty.

They really have had an easy ride overall though. But that's to do with laziness than anything else. 3 straight #1 picks do not equal dynasty.
- RogerRoeper

Selecting first in three consecutive Entry Drafts has only happened twice, to the best of my Knowledge.

The Nordiques and the Oilers.

The Nordiques did end up (as a franchise) wining the Cup a couple of times in the following decade.

Montreal picked first overall three years out of four years, and went on to win five cups in the following 7 seasons.

So the evidence kind of points to wining the Cup after selecting a number of first overall picks in a short period of time.

Selecting first in three consecutive Entry Drafts has only happened twice, to the best of my Knowledge.

The Nordiques and the Oilers.

The Nordiques did end up (as a franchise) wining the Cup a couple of times in the following decade.

Montreal picked first overall three years out of four years, and went on to win five cups in the following 7 seasons.

So the evidence kind of points to wining the Cup after selecting a number of first overall picks in a short period of time.
- Doppleganger

Of the 3 players quebec took 1st overall Sundin, Nolan, Lindros.. None were on the Teams that won the Cups in Colorado in 1996 and 2001.

So great point

Of the only example that has happened all the players were traded.
Mctavish better get on the phones and make some amazing trades

I think we're starting to see that the tank to rebuild model does not automatically make you a cup contender like a lot of people thought.
- daeth

Exactly, the Crosby/Ovechkin models got over-romanticized as foolproof.

I'm glad, fans cheering for their team to tank seemed a little messed-up in my opinion. Plus I think perpetually tanking & losing screws up the young "superstars" mentality.

Of the 3 players quebec took 1st overall Sundin, Nolan, Lindros.. None were on the Teams that won the Cups in Colorado in 1996 and 2001.

So great point

Of the only example that has happened all the players were traded.
Mctavish better get on the phones and make some amazing trades
- senstroll

WOW, no kidding!!!!

I did NOT realize that Eric Lindros never played for the Avalanche



I wonder, did RogerRoper stipulate in his statement "3 straight #1 picks do not equal dynasty. " that the selected players had to stay with the team that selected them, and not be traded for assets that would propel a team to be a "dynasty"??

No he did not.

Nice try weakling.

Tanking is luck. You need to tank during the right time. To me, Hall, RNH and Yakupov are very nice players, but rather weak as first overalls.

Hell, Erik Johnson was first overall. Everyone else in the top 5 that year is far, far better.

Pittsburgh was just ridiculously lucky. I laugh when people say "Tank Like Pittsburgh" Impossible.

Of the 3 players quebec took 1st overall Sundin, Nolan, Lindros.. None were on the Teams that won the Cups in Colorado in 1996 and 2001.

So great point

Of the only example that has happened all the players were traded.
Mctavish better get on the phones and make some amazing trades
- senstroll

You're aware of who they got out of the Lindros fiasco right?

Things like this less than 10 games into the season is why trolls gather when the Leafs start losing.

Things like this less than 10 games into the season is why trolls gather when the Leafs start losing.
- TheTaoOfSemenko

How about all of last season? This isn't a rush to judgement based on 10 games.

And spare me the "This is Why People Hate Leaf Fans". B.S.

How about all of last season? This isn't a rush to judgement based on 10 games.

And spare me the "This is Why People Hate Leaf Fans". B.S.
- RogerRoeper

Then how do you account for why the majority of Canadian hockey fans dislike leaf fans?

Is there just more "rotten apples" in leaf nation that make the majority of leaf fans look bad by association?

Then how do you account for why the majority of Canadian hockey fans dislike leaf fans?

Is there just more "rotten apples" in leaf nation that make the majority of leaf fans look bad by association?
- Doppleganger

I travel a lot. Hating Toronto is just the thing to do in cities. Having the Leafs shown the most by the networks is easily a reason over the actions of any fans and I think you know that.

My own media in Toronto has kissed Edmonton's butts because of their rebuild and laughed at the home team. I don't think it's too early to say the Edmonton rebuild is not working.

Kadri was laughed at and labeled a bust @ 19 by the hockey world. So I can judge the "Young Guns" on the Oilers.

I clearly was talking about last season, so it is disingenuous to pretend like I'm making my judgements based on less than 3 weeks of an NHl season.

Brian Burke making trades to get Kessel, Lupul, Gardiner, Phaneuf, Franson JVR, drafting Kadri and Rielly was much harder and better work that Edmonton's theory of being the worst team, doing nothing and collecting first overall picks.

I travel a lot. Hating Toronto is just the thing to do in cities. Having the Leafs shown the most by the networks is easily a reason over the actions of any fans and I think you know that.

My own media in Toronto has kissed Edmonton's butts because of their rebuild and laughed at the home team. I don't think it's too early to say the Edmonton rebuild is not working.

Kadri was laughed at and labeled a bust @ 19 by the hockey world. So I can judge the "Young Guns" on the Oilers.

I clearly was talking about last season, so it is disingenuous to pretend like I'm making my judgements based on less than 3 weeks of an NHl season.

Brian Burke making trades to get Kessel, Lupul, Gardiner, Phaneuf, Franson JVR, drafting Kadri and Rielly was much harder and better work that Edmonton's theory of being the worst team, doing nothing and collecting first overall picks.
- RogerRoeper

So all those obnoxious leaf fans who show up at any sporting event wearing their leaf jerseys chanting go leafs go (like at the eightieth hole at the 2013 PGA Championship) have nothing to do with degrading the reputation on all leaf fans??

So all those obnoxious leaf fans who show up at any sporting event wearing their leaf jerseys chanting go leafs go (like at the eightieth hole at the 2013 PGA Championship) have nothing to do with degrading the reputation on all leaf fans??
- Doppleganger

None whatsoever. Every fanbase does this.

The 100% reason is media exposure of the Leafs. And the thousands of complaints I've read about it from every province makes me think I am correct.

None whatsoever. Every fanbase does this.

The 100% reason is media exposure of the Leafs. And the thousands of complaints I've read about it from every province makes me think I am correct.
- RogerRoeper

NO every fan-base does NOT show up in the Eightieth hole Grandstand at the PGA Championship, wearing their NHL team Jersey, and chanting "Go leafs Go" like some leaf fans did this past Summer.

To think that all NHL fans do this, is ridiculous.


I was at the Sens Opener this past Thursday, vs the Devils and there were leaf fans wearing wearing their leaf jerseys there, and that's just silly isn't it?

NO every fan-base does NOT show up in the Eightieth hole Grandstand at the PGA Championship, wearing their NHL team Jersey, and chanting "Go leafs Go" like some leaf fans did this past Summer.

To think that all NHL fans do this, is ridiculous.


I was at the Sens Opener this past Thursday, vs the Devils and there were leaf fans wearing wearing their leaf jerseys there, and that's just silly isn't it?
- Doppleganger

So you think the Leaf hate out-West is because of fans wearing Leaf jerseys? Of course not.

The more the Senators organization tries to keep Leaf fans out of Sens home games, the more vocal it makes them.

I travel a lot. Hating Toronto is just the thing to do in cities. Having the Leafs shown the most by the networks is easily a reason over the actions of any fans and I think you know that.

My own media in Toronto has kissed Edmonton's butts because of their rebuild and laughed at the home team. I don't think it's too early to say the Edmonton rebuild is not working.

Kadri was laughed at and labeled a bust @ 19 by the hockey world. So I can judge the "Young Guns" on the Oilers.

I clearly was talking about last season, so it is disingenuous to pretend like I'm making my judgements based on less than 3 weeks of an NHl season.

Brian Burke making trades to get Kessel, Lupul, Gardiner, Phaneuf, Franson JVR, drafting Kadri and Rielly was much harder and better work that Edmonton's theory of being the worst team, doing nothing and collecting first overall picks.
- RogerRoeper

Most fans I know dont hate the Leafs, they just like rubbing it in when they lose because there are Leafs hats/sweaters everywhere you look. I dont think you can say the Oilers rebuild was the wrong way to go yet, it depends on the pieces they move to improve the team. MacT has made some nice moves so far, im confident he will make some more.